Buying Advice PTO or Gas

[YanmarGuy]

I’m looking for a chipper to augment my part time tree work and at home. It’s a pain sometimes when I have to remove the brush. I also have a lot of trees in my yard and constantly piling up brush. I have a Yanmar SA325 with a 23.9 Engine HP and PTO 18.1-HP. I usually bring the tractor in my dump trailer. I don’t get too many stump jobs but, I have the grinder for grapple counter weight. Long winded but here’s my issue. The PTO units that fit my configuration are similar in branch sizes to the gas units. NOTE: Not towable l…I already have too much stuff to haul to jobs. So…any ideas about my situation. I could use the PTO unit as counter weight. The gas unit could be placed in the truck bed and still have to take the grinder with me. The prices seem to be “close “. Any thoughts or suggestions. I’ve been googling and looking at numerous brands. Help me out with some suggestions I haven’t thought about. Thanks

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

i found out chippers in the size you are considering to be way to slow. Way to slow.
I found other solutions and sold my chipper/mulcher but live in an area where burning large piles in winter is approved and land filling cheap and easy.

 

[steve tym]

One plus of the pto chipper, is there is no engine to maintain. I have enough of those.

 

[Captain Dirty]

As I have both a gasoline-powered Kemp Rancher chipper shredder (no longer made) and a Salsco 6" PTO chipper, and as I have posted my experience with both on this forum, you can probably search using my name and "Kemp," "Chipper shredder," "Shredder," "Chipper," etc. to read my experiences and opinions. I do agree with MapleLeafFarmer that 3" max chippers are slow. The following comments were gleaned from your original post.

You said you normally carry a stump grinder (I am assuming a Woodland Mills style with longitudinal shaft grinding wheel) as a counterweight for a grapple in a dump trailer. You may find a mounted PTO chipper with infeed too long to carry in the trailer.

You also discussed putting the gas powered chipper in the bed of your (Pick-up?) truck. My Kemp is built on a 4-wheeled cart and weighs more than 470 lbs. I have loaded it in a PU truck using ramps and a 4-part block and tackle or using a come-a-long. The Woodland Mills gas chipper on their website (TFG-55) has 2 wheels and a weight of 413 lbs. I cannot envision maneuvering 400+ lbs. on a 2-wheeled hand truck up ramps onto the bed of a truck. Even moving that on soft, level ground would daunt me.

 

[YanmarGuy]

As I have both a gasoline-powered Kemp Rancher chipper shredder (no longer made) and a Salsco 6" PTO chipper, and as I have posted my experience with both on this forum, you can probably search using my name and "Kemp," "Chipper shredder," "Shredder," "Chipper," etc. to read my experiences and opinions. I do agree with MapleLeafFarmer that 3" max chippers are slow. The following comments were gleaned from your original post.

You said you normally carry a stump grinder (I am assuming a Woodland Mills style with longitudinal shaft grinding wheel) as a counterweight for a grapple in a dump trailer. You may find a mounted PTO chipper with infeed too long to carry in the trailer.

You also discussed putting the gas powered chipper in the bed of your (Pick-up?) truck. My Kemp is built on a 4-wheeled cart and weighs more than 470 lbs. I have loaded it in a PU truck using ramps and a 4-part block and tackle or using a come-a-long. The Woodland Mills gas chipper on their website (TFG-55) has 2 wheels and a weight of 413 lbs. I cannot envision maneuvering 400+ lbs. on a 2-wheeled hand truck up ramps onto the bed of a truck. Even moving that on soft, level ground would daunt me.

Baumalight but, yes same as WM. Good point about the length…I’ll have to do some research. The FEL or grapple should be able to maneuver a gas unit into the bed…maybe? I work usually within 30 minutes but, trying not to make multiple trips. Thanks folks and keep the comments and suggestions coming!

 

[Captain Dirty]

The FEL or grapple should be able to maneuver a gas unit into the bed…maybe?

Another consideration when researching gas chippers would be if it has lifting points or if you could fabricate lifting points so you could use a sling to safely and easily lift the chipper into the truck bed. If I were to use the closing power of a grapple to grasp a chipper, I would likely damage the chipper at some point owing to haste, fatigue, or complacency.

 

[workinonit]

Things like chippers and stump grinders I prefer to be self contained. Those machines are hard on a tractor PTO.

 

[bigtiller]

Things like chippers and stump grinders I prefer to be self contained. Those machines are hard on a tractor PTO.

I don't think so.
Things like belt drive, heavy flywheels, shear pins, and slip clutches produce/absorb kinetic energy to prevent tractor damage.

 

[workinonit]

Something with a belt drive I agree, the rest of them I don't. It's just hammering I don't put my PTO through. I don't care what you do with yours.

 

[YanmarGuy]

I bought the Powerhorse 5” chipper with 15hp from Northern Tool. It was on sale and I got my veteran discount too. Saved about $450. It’s china made but, I’m surprised that it weighs 375 pounds. It appears to be made well. I talked to the mechanic before I bought it. He said he’s only ever had one come back because the customer was chipping frozen wood. He also said it’s a good engine and to keep dirt out of the fuel tank. It seems they added an adjustment for the “anvil “ they call lower blade. I suspect it’s for chip size and/or clearance. IDK yet. It started 1st pull so far. I’ve got stuff to chip this week. Thanks for the help.